5 Best Mixology Classes in Brooklyn and Upstate NY

In order for you to become a bartender, you need to take a mixology course, and if you are looking to do one, then the 4 best mixology classes in Brooklyn and upstate NY will certainly help you.

Now, we certainly have nothing against Bartenders, but one thing must set right before we even begin is that a bartender is not necessarily a mixologist. Mixology is an entirely different kind of approach to making alcohol more pleasurable to those who want to drink. Though, from the customer’s perspective both professions have little to no difference. However, if you ask the people in the industry they will obviously tell you otherwise. Cocktails are awesome, and it is the mixologist’s job to create amazing cocktails by combining drinks and whenever possible improving them. On the other hand, a bartender’s job is to make great drinks and provide the customer with a balanced experience. However, the recent alcohol consumption trend is certainly favoring cocktails thus their mixologists are in high demand right now.

If you are thinking about a career change, and you possess a passion for cocktails, then perhaps becoming a mixologist is a viable option. However, you need to have the passion for it, otherwise your cocktails will end up being drab and lacking the creative spirit. If you possess that already, then there is clearly a great opportunity waiting for you out there. All you have to do is just go through the course to get the paperwork and certification. Then let the hunt for the perfect job commence. There are over 8 million New Yorkers out there, and not enough mixologists to keep their glasses filled up. If you enjoy cocktails, especially making them, then this article will help you a great deal. If Brooklyn and upstate, NY does not work for your location-wise, then you should check out our list of 5 Best Mixology Classes in Manhattan. If you’re looking for a cheap bartending school in NYC, we’ve tried to help you out, though nothing in the city is very cheap.

Being a mixologist is a recognized and sought after profession. You will find mixologists working in everything from dive bars to high-end restaurants and chic nightclubs. If you wish to climb up the ladder, then you need to take these classes to improve your skills. These classes will not only improve upon the cocktail making skills you already possess, but also provide you with the certification that you can use to kindle the interest of potential high end employers. Now that said, if you are going into this without any prior experience, then you do not have to worry as well. All you need is a creative personality and an open mind for learning. Of course, prior exposure to cocktail making will help you along, but it is not mandatory for the classes we are about to mention.

This is about the time when we discuss our methodology. As always, we consulted the rich database of Class Curious in order to find the classes that fit the bill for this article. We also sought help from a simple Google search about mixology programs around Manhattan. Once we were done with finding the raw data, we sorted them and ranked them based on user ratings. Who better to ask for ratings than those who have actually been to the classes, right? Despite the list being ranked and all, we are confident that you can pick any class that made the list and it will be a worthwhile investment.

Let’s take a look at some New York bartending school reviews and get our list of best mixology classes in Brooklyn and upstate NY started.

4. Huckleberry Bar

User Rating: 4.2

Address: 588 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

We are going to start off our list with Huckleberry Bar. If you live around Brooklyn then you are already familiar with the place. Aside from amazing cocktails, you can grab craft beer & snacks as well. But the question here is, did you know that they offered a cocktail making class as well? If you didn’t, then you now you do. If you are looking to pursue a career in mixology, then Huckleberry Bar’s classes are a safe bet for you. The only limiting factor is that they offer their classes only on Tuesday nights from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. If the timing does not work for you, then you are out of luck, as this is their only class as of now. However, things may change in the future, so keep an eye out. Otherwise, if the timing works for you, then what are you waiting for?

3. Proof + Gauge @ The Astoria Distilling Co

User Rating: 4.2

Address: 31-00 47th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101

If you are interested in craft distilling and have a passion for gin, then Proof + Gauge is the best match for you. Your instructor for the class will be none other than the man Mr. Chris Murillo himself, the founder and distiller of The Astoria Distilling Co. This class will feature three distinct cocktails made from their very own award-winning spirits. If you are just starting out in the industry, then this is the perfect class to attend. You will not be overwhelmed with a lot of information, and you can go in without any prior knowledge of cocktail making. The best part about this class is the pricing, as it is the cheapest of the bunch. As their website mentions, the space is limited, so head on over there and book yourself a class ASAP.

2.  Leyenda

User Rating: 4.6

Address: 221 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

We are half way through our list of best mixology classes in Brooklyn and upstate NY. Leyenda is a pan-Latin cocktail bar specializing in Latin American creative and classic cocktails. If you wish to master the art of making Latin American cocktails, then Leyenda is the answer for you. The co-owners  Julie Reiner, Ivy Mix and Tom Macy will be teaching you in their hands on mixology classes. The topics covered will be Essential Bottles, Tools, Techniques and Recipes and some amazing seasonal cocktails to start you off on the right foot. Though these classes can get a bit expensive, you are going to get every bit of your money’s worth from them as well.

1. Academy of Professional Bartending School

User Rating: 4.8

Address: 363 North Ave, New Rochelle, NY 10801

Unfortunately, we have arrived at the very end of our list, but the good news is, this is where we unveil our top pick. As you can already see from the heading, our top pick is the Academy of Professional Bartending School with a user rating of 4.8 out of 5. If you are absolutely serious and willing to commit a considerable amount of your time and other resources into this, then the Academy of Professional Bartending School will most certainly help you achieve your goals as a mixologist. People over at the school, teach professional bartenders how to be good at their job, so you can rest assured that regardless of your skills in this field, you can get into this without any doubt. You will be spending quite a bit of money for attending their classes, but then again beyond these classes is quite the promising career opportunity. If you are up for it, then you should opt for the best out there and the Academy of Professional Bartending School is certainly the best institution to go to if you want to master the art of mixology.

This was our list of the best mixology classes in Brooklyn and Upstate NY. We had a lot of fun making this list, and we sincerely hope that you find this list useful and informative. If you did, then please let us know down in the comments. Also help spread the word by sharing this article over social media.